Stephanie Spear 
Many parents are familiar with the sight of a home overflowing with toys, yet their children claim to have ‘nothing to play with’. It might feel like the only solution is to throw everything in the garbage, but The Toy Nest in Falls Church has a better approach: it’s a toy library. Patrons can come by and play with the items, reserve and rent toys, Halloween costumes, games, and more. The Toy Nest, located at 125 N. Washington Street, was founded by Lisa Bourven, a Falls Church mom looking to solve the never-ending toy problem. Read on for more about The Toy Nest in Falls Church.
The Backstory
Falls Church resident Lisa Bourven had left her career in sales analytics and operations leadership for a local bakery cafe chain to stay at home with her kids. In chatting with other parents, she realized they all had a common problem. “We would pick out what toys to get for our kids, and be very thoughtful about it,” she said. “And our house was crowded. Every toy had the same pattern: the kids would have intense interest for a few days, followed by complete abandonment.”
A 2018 trip to visit her family in Houston, TX painted the toy supply problem in stark relief. “It was over 100 degrees and we were there for two weeks. We were playing with my old toys from the 80s and we eventually went to a Goodwill to get a few things for them,” Lisa said. “I wished we could borrow toys for the time we were there. I just knew there was something better. I ended up finding a toy library in Austin, Texas, and knew that was the answer.”
Image courtesy of Lisa Bourven
A toy library is similar to a regular library, but patrons can check out games, toys, costumes, and all kinds of kid-centric gear. Children get access to a wider variety of toys, and parents don’t have to purchase or store the toys. Some toy libraries are operated as community cooperatives, others are run in conjunction with local libraries, and others are businesses with membership models. Some cater to the special needs community, providing specialized toys and equipment. Some toy libraries even sell items that are getting a bit too loved to share anymore, but would still be worth enjoying at home.
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In 2019, Lisa traveled to Austin to visit with the owner the Toybrary, and started researching how to start her own business. She found the US Toy Library Association and realized how popular the model was. “I always wanted to start a business, and my youngest was going to start kindergarten, so I made the plan,” she said.
“The idea dates back to the 1930’s,” Lisa said. “Most other toy libraries are volunteer-run, non-profits, and operate on a smaller scale with a sliding fee. The Toy Nest is unique because it is privately owned, open 40 hours a week, and has an extensive catalog.”
The Toy Nest
Lisa opened the Toy Nest in Falls Church in March 2020 – not an ideal time to share something premised on sharing. “The concept of sharing was repulsive; people were wiping down their groceries, so they definitely didn’t want to share toys that their kids would play with,” she said. “So we pivoted to an online model where people could reserve toys in advance. For two months, I made all the deliveries myself.”
Eventually, things evened out, and Lisa was able to offer toy rentals, in-person play, and parties at the shop. The inventory grew, and the concept caught on. In 2022, Lisa moved The Toy Nest to its current location at 125 Washington Street. The Toy Nest is one of three full-time, stand-alone toy libraries in the US.
Now, Lisa says that the inventory is nearly 2,000 items and includes anything from board games to water toys to wheeled toys to Halloween costumes. Neighbors can access the Toy Nest through a monthly membership or drop-in passes. Members get perks like unlimited swaps, curbside pickup, and up to two rental renewals on an item. The stock is geared toward children 0-8 years old, but there are board games that might appeal to tweens.
The selection of the items is a team effort, informed by a combination of research and parent feedback. “We do a ‘holiday wishlist’ toward the end of the year where members can request toys,” Lisa said. “And we have 5.5 years of data about the rentals to show what’s popular and what’s not.” Lisa said that the most popular item at the Toy Nest is the Paw Patrol Ultimate Fire Truck with Marshall. “It’s big and loud, which makes it great for borrowing,” she said.
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Lisa and her team are constantly cleaning and inspecting the items. “We use an EPA-approved sanitizer spray, plush items are washed in a washing machine, electronic and furry items are sprayed down and then air dried,” she said. “Some items require soap and water, maybe the hose, if it’s a big water toy or something sticky.”
“Once an item is too worn, or there’s a jagged edge or chipped paint, we don’t rent it out anymore,” she said. Duplicate items and other ‘retired’ items are sold at the shop or through local consignment stores.
Image courtesy of Lisa Bourven.
The space itself feels like a playroom – neatly organized shelves lining the walls with toys and games labeled by age group. There’s a smaller, gated-off space for the smallest visitors (age 3 and under), while older siblings can roam freely in the main space. There’s also a party room, which party hosts can decorate however they want. Local restaurants partner for catering, so it’s an easy choice for parents.
Throughout the week, there are programs for patrons, like Montessori baby classes, preschool storytime, sensory playtime, and more. Reflecting on it all, Lisa said, “I think it’s special that our community has one [toy library] at all, because they’re hard to run, and in some seasons, they’re a labor of love. And being open 40 hours a week with such an extensive catalog that we have, I think, is really special. So we’re really proud of that.”
To learn more about The Toy Nest, visit its website and follow on social media.
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